Kevin Durant gave the Rockets plenty of scoring last season. ESPN’s Tim MacMahon believes Houston also asked him to handle responsibilities that weren’t suited to his strengths.
That includes setting the tone in the locker room.
Speaking on The Hoop Collective, MacMahon pointed to Durant while discussing Houston’s late-game offense and team chemistry, as relayed by Eric Jay Santos of Rockets on SI.
“There were issues with connectivity in the Rockets locker room,” MacMahon said. “I would say you could even say Kevin Durant was at the top of the list of both of those problems.”
That’s a strong assessment. But MacMahon’s explanation went beyond simply blaming Durant for a disappointing finish.
“Having to be the primary initiator down the stretch of games, having to be the default leader, the guy most responsible for the mood of the locker room. Those don’t play to his strengths,” MacMahon said. “Those do play to Fred VanVleet’s strengths and kind of take those burdens off of KD’s shoulders this year.”
In other words, MacMahon sees VanVleet’s return as a way to put Durant in a better position, both on the floor and around the team.
Durant’s individual production remained impressive. He averaged 26.0 points, 5.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists in 78 games, earning second-team All-NBA honors. Houston finished 52-30 but exited in the first round, with Durant missing most of the series against the Lakers.
So was Durant responsible for the disconnect? MacMahon believes he played a significant part. That doesn’t establish him as the sole cause.
The more useful question for Houston is whether a healthy VanVleet can handle enough of the organizing and leadership to let Durant concentrate on what he still does exceptionally well: score.
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